THE RIO CARNIVAL Meri and Becca

  A world famous festival held before Lent every year  Dates back to 1723  2 million people take to the streets each day  Rio Carnival is filled with revellers, floats and adornments from numerous samba schools located in Rio  Samba School – composed of a collaboration of local neighbours that want to attend carnival together, they have some kind of regional, geographic common background Brief History of Rio Carnival

  Carnival is the epitome of a mega event  Rio Carnival is a globally recognised personality  Extreme media exposure, appeals to the masses  Generates significant economic, political, social and cultural capital  Brazil basically stops for almost a week and festivities are intense day and night! Carnival as a Mega Event

  Pre modern – built around tradition, myth, rituals and seasons  Modern - rationalises spaces (Sambadrome) and have become industrial  Post modern – commodified – market values for signs and symbols  - celebritised and disneyfied – altogether voyeuristic  - carnival has become meaningless  - very controlled event – but comes across at chaotic Carnival in Context

  Local identity – design in performance of carnival  National identity – reflective of national views  International/global identity – impressions we expect to see are played out through the media around the world – usually overindulgent and libidinous  Global identity – carnival has significance to so many nations and has developed a global personality  Heritage – African and European influences in Samba  Carnivalesque – increasingly standardised around the world Identities at the Carnival

  Rio Carnival is a very gendered event!  Parade is predominantly women  Objectification of women? Gendered Idenites

  Success of event has put Rio on the map  Reinforces Brazilian culture – music and dance  Commodification of culture... Brazilian Identity

  Media spectacle (Kellner) and interest has helped create the spectacle seen at the Rio Carnival  Reinforces global spectacle – consumed around the world as well as in Rio de Janiero  Carnival is passively consumed spectacle for some  carnival can oppose the spectacle (DeBord, 1967) – political elements Spectacle

  An event this large has many impacts on the host city.  Economic – millions for city, but where does this money go? Slums  Social – in Brazil, carnival focused on the lower classes but now the upper classes participate with tickets in the sambadrome costing up to $500 each, this is also littered with celebs – brings communities together to put shows together  Political – used as a politcal tool – generates regeneration income – is this the case in Brazil? Social, economic and cultural impacts

  Whole city stops for almost a week  The celebrations gives everyone a chance to be involved, street festivals – free  However...  Increase in crime – lack of security Local

  Worlds perception of Brazil – flamboyant, beautiful women, etc  Through globalisation, Brazilian influences have spread over the globe, music dance and culture  The traits of Rio Carnival can be enjoyed everywhere Global

  How much do you think the Rio Carnival benefits the Brazilian people?  Do you think the Rio Carnival is still seen as a religious festival? Task